LAKEWOOD, Colo. — The first person charged by prosecutors in Jefferson County with fentanyl distribution resulting in death was sentenced Wednesday to 26 years in the Colorado Department of Corrections.
Brock Nieuwendorp pleaded guilty in January to that charge in connection to the death of 25-year-old Catherine Hackim and faced a maximum of 32 years in prison.
“There is nothing in this world that could hurt more than losing a child,” Hackim's mother told the court at sentencing. “The best I can do is just try to survive each day.”
According to an arrest affidavit from the Lakewood Police Department, he sold fentanyl to Hackim on multiple occasions including April 28, 2023 which is the day she died, according to the 1st Judicial District Attorney's Office. He was the first person charged in Jefferson County under the new law in Colorado which increased penalties for some drug crimes.
On April 29, 2023, agents from the Lakewood Police Department (LPD) were dispatched to Hackim's apartment for a welfare check. Her parents reported that they had been unable to contact her.
After entering her apartment, agents found Hackim deceased on her couch, the DA's Office said. She had no apparent injuries; however, agents were aware that Hackim was known to use fentanyl.
They later located a drawer in the bathroom with a small bag of blue M30 fentanyl pills.
According to an arrest affidavit, Hackim's parents obtained some information from her cellphone provider. They suspected that a person named "Brock Nie" might have supplied her with drugs. They noted that Hackim had made several payments to "Brock Nie" through Cash App.
Her parents also provided investigators with several codes they thought might work to unlock Hackim's phone. One of them worked, and they found an exchange of text messages between her and Nieuwendorp made on April 28, 2023.
Hakim's family released the following statement after the sentencing.
“We’re so grateful for the care our daughter’s case received over the past year from law enforcement, the prosecution team, our victim’s advocate, and the judge. We’re still grieving the loss of our beloved Kate, but we take great comfort in knowing that the community Kate loved will be a safer place for many years to come.
We hope that this case will serve as a deterrent to those individuals considering dealing or using fentanyl and will bring us one step closer to Kate’s dream of building a world that humanizes, cares for, and protects those who suffer from addiction. Kate would be proud of those who fought on her behalf and would appreciate the justice she received.”
At the time of Hackim's death, Nieuwendorp was serving probation related to a criminal case in Douglas County. He has a separate pending criminal case in Denver for weapons and drug charges.
Nieuwendorp addressed the court at his sentencing and expressed remorse and regret.
“My heart hurts so deeply for my victim and her family," he said.
He also said he struggled with addiction himself which began when he was prescribed Oxycontin for a knee injury.
The Court also emphasized Nieuwendorp’s lengthy criminal history and recent arrest and said his actions were destined to cause harm to somebody, if not to Hackim, to somebody else.
“Where does the addiction end, and the responsibility begin? Part of the answer is when people get hurt, and definitely when people die.”
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